Fiberboard carton



Aug. 13, 1968 G. J. BICK ET AL 3,396,897

FIBERBOARD CARTON Filed Oct. 21, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. GERALDJ. Blclc m 5 J. KIRKBEIDE 491? 1?. M P

AME-$153.51

Aug. 13, 1968 J. a c ET AL 3,396,897

F IBERBOARD CARTON Filed Oct. 21, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GERALDJ. 8mm

h) J. RIDE. 23??? w Aug. 13, 1968 a. J. BICK ETAl FIBERBOARD CARTON 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 21, 1966 INVENTOR. @ERASD J. SICK U) s FIG. 6

United States Patent 3,396,897 FIBERBOARD CARTON Gerald J. Bick, Berkey,and Willis J. Kirkbride, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Owens-Illinois,Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 588,618 4Claims. (Cl. 229-32) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention inquestion relates to a corrugated board carton having a bottom portion,two side portions and two end portions, the side and end portionscontaining elongated vertical ventilation slots, the axes of which areparallel with the corrugated flutes of the corrugated board. Theabove-described arrangement for ventilation slots is advantageous inthat it prevents the easy migration of moisture through'the corrugationflutes.

This invention relates to a fiberboard carton. More particularly, thisinvention is concerned with a fiberboard container which is particularlyadapted for ventilation or drainage and which can be utilized in thepresence of moisture or water.

The container of the subject invention is especially convenient to useand has exceptional strength properties. Likewise, the container of theinvention at hand is novel in that it has ventilation slots in both itsside and end panels, said ventilating slots all being parallel withcorrugation flutes. The slots of the subject carton are referred to asventilation slots, however, it is obvious that these slots can be usedfor either ventilation or moisture drainage. The ventilation slots ofthe subject invention are also unique in that they are positioned insuch a way that upon bending a score line, the lower extremities of saidventilation slots are pinched closed.

As is discussed above, the subject container has ventilation slots inboth its side and end panels. The prior art discloses containers whichincorporate ventilation slots in both the side and end panels. However,in these prior art containers, one set of ventilation slots are alwayspositioned at right angles to the corrugation flutes. A set ofventilation slots which are positioned at right angles to thecorrugation flutes allows moisture to be transferred over a wide sectionof the corrugated board and hence allows the board to weaken and softenand therefore become useless in the presence of moisture. In contrast,the ventilation slots as incorporated in the container or the subjectinvention are all parallel with the corrugation flutes. Accordingly,when these ventilation slots are exposed to moisture, said moisture canmigrate only through the channels which are actually cut at right anglesto the corrugation flutes. This number never exceeds the number asactually covered by the width of the ventilation slot.

The ventilation slots of the invention at hand are also novel in thatthe lower extremities of said slots are arcuate, the radius of this arebeing positioned directly on a score line. When the score line is bent,the lower extremity of the ventilation slot is crimped so as to minimizemoisture migration.

The primary object of this invention is the manufacture of a superiorcarton.

Another object of this invention is in the manufacture of a superiorcarton which has ventilation slots in both the side and end panels, saidventilation slots all being parallel with the corrugation flutes.

Still another object of this invention is the preparation of a containerwherein the lower extremity of the ventilation slots are crimped byfolding a score line.

Finally, the object of this invention includes all the ice other novelfeatures which will be obvious from the drawings and specification athand.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the blank used to form the container ofthis invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the container of this invention inits first assembly state.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the container of this invention inalmost complete assembly state.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an end panel of the subjectcontainer in almost final assembly state.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an end panel of the container ofthis invention in its final assembly state.

FIG. 6 shows the subject container in its final assembly state.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the locking assembly of the subjectcontainer.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the crimping action of theventilation slots of this invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the subject carton is assembled by firstgripping the inner central trapezoidal end panel members 10 and 16 andfolding them inwardly 180 onto bottom panel 2 along score lines 62 and72. Side panel 6 is then biased in relation to bottom panel 2 alongscore line 70 and intermediate inner end panels 60 and 56 are biased 180along score lines 66 and 74 onto central trapezoidal end panels 10 and16. While panels 10 and 16 are trapezoidal in FIGS. 1 and 2, it isobvious to one skilled in the art that the panels could likewise betriangular.

In the above described folding procedure, outer end panels 12 and 18 areautomatically positioned at right angles to both side panel 6 and bottompanel 2 along score lines 82, 83, 84 and 85.

Referring to FIG. 3, the above described assembly procedure is repeatedwherein intermediate inner end panel members 54 and 58 are biased 180onto inner central trapezoidal end panel members 10 and 16 on scorelines 64 and 76. This again automatically positions side panel 4 atright angles to bottom panel 2 along score line 68. Likewise outer endpanel members 8 and 14 are automatically positioned at right angles toboth side panel 4 and bottom panel 2 along score lines 78, 80, 86, and88.

Composite folded inner end panel 90 and its opposing counterpart are nowpositioned approximately adjacent to bottom panel 2. Said compositepanel 90 and its opposing counterpart are then folded 90 along scorelines 62 and 72 until parallel to outer end panel members 8, 12, 14 and'18. Composite end panel 90 and its opposing counterpart are thensecured in position by tab portions 38 and 39 which, when placed throughhandle apertures 42 and 46, are bent downwardly on score lines 91through to secure the composite end portions into position.

Referring to FIG. 7, a locking tab 38 and its opposing counterpart 39can be secured in position by use of staples, adhesives, etc.

Inner intermediate end panel members 54, 56, 58 and 60 are provided withcut out portions 104, 106, 108 and 110 which allow the panel members tobe folded in accordance with the method described above.

The subject container incorporates a plurality of ventilation slots 18through 28 inside panel members 4 and 6. It is to be noted that theseventilation slots are parallel to the corrugation flutes as per cut-out50. Likewise, a plurality of ventilation slots 30, 32, 34, and 36 areprovided in outer end panel members 8, 12, 14, and 18. Again, it is tobe noted that these drainage slots are parallel with the corrugationflutes as per cut-out 52.

As was discussed above, this arrangement permits maximum ventilationwith minimal deterioration of the corrugated board due to moisturetransfer through the corrugation flutes. This result is achieved due tothe fact that a 3 minimal number of cuts are made at right angles to thecorrugation flutes.

Likewise, as is best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and specifically in FIG.8, the lower extremities of all ventilation slots are arcuate.Specifically referring to FIG. 8, it can be seen that ventilation slot20 has anarcuate periphery 102 which is positioned in close proximity toscore line 68. When panel 4 is folded at right angles to panel 2, acrimping action occurs along score line 68. This crimping action tendsto crimp arcuate periphery 102 in such a way as to minimize the transferof moisture across the lower extremity of ventilation slot 20.

It is to be noted that while the preferred embodiment of the containerof this invention has been illustrated, there are various modificationsthat would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. Also, it isobvious to vary the dimensions and relative size of the panels of thecontainer to suit the particular application.

The container of this invention can be formed from any fiberboard ofpaperlike product. However, it is preferred that the container at handhe formed from corrugated board. The particular weight, corrugate flute,etc. of the corrugated board utilized will depend on the environment inwhich the carton will be subsequently utilized.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructioncan be modified throughout a wide range without departing from theprinciples of this invention and it is not, therefore, the purpose tolimit the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A corrugated board carton having a bottom portion, two side portionsand two end portions the side and end portions containing elongatedvertical ventilation slots the axes of which are parallel with thecorrugated flutes of the corrugated board. 1

2. A corrugated board carton having a bottom portion, two side portionsand two end portions which contain at least one ventilation slot whichhas an arcuate end portion said arcuate end portion being positioned ona score line.

3. A carton blank having a bottom panel, two side panels wherein:

(a) foldably connected at right angles to either side of the side panelsand to the bottom panel are outer end panel portions which containelongated vertical ventilation slots, the axes of which are parallelwith the corrugated flutes of the corrugated board,

(b) foldably connected to the outer end panel portions and the bottompanel are composite inner end panel portions which comprise a centraltrapezoidal portion and two intermediate inner end panel portions whichare located between the central trapezoidal portion and the outer endpanels, the intermediate inner end panel portions being folded back ontothe central inner trapezoidal portion to form a composite inner panelportion,

(0) the side panel portions contain elongated vertical ventilator slots,the axes of which are parallel with the corrugated flutes of thecorrugated board and are positioned at right angles to the bottom paneland the end panel portions,

(d) the composite inner end panel portion is folded up parallel to theouter end panel portions and at right angles to the bottom panel and theside panel portions.

4. The'carton of claim 3 wherein the ventilation slots have arcuate endportions which are positioned on score lines.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 742,159 10/1903 Burton 22935 X1,700,758 2/ 1929 Berkowitz 22931 X 1,755,722 4/1930 Bachmann 22916 X2,366,304 1/ 1945 Williams et al 22935 X 2,445,467 7/1948 Berke 229312,659,524 11/1953 McElwee 22916 X 3,202,337 8/1965 Cramer et a1 22932DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner.

